Brussels fears in particular that Microsoft can “lock access to video games from Activision Blizzard for consoles and PC”.
Le Monde with AFP
Brussels announced, Tuesday, November 8, open an in -depth investigation into the buyout project of the American publisher of video games Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, judging that this operation at 69 billion dollars could “significantly reduce” competition on This market.
The European Commission explained to fear in particular that Microsoft could “lock access to video games from Activision Blizzard [including the famous Call of Duty] for consoles and PC” and that it is tempted to set up ” Eviction strategies for competitive video game distributors for consoles “.
The European executive, which ensures compliance with competition in the EU, believes that such strategies could lead to “a price increase, a drop in quality and a reduction in innovation”.
A decision by March 2023
The Commission also fears a reduction in competition in the operating systems market for PC. She believes that users could be discouraged to buy PCs not operating under Windows, the Microsoft system made more attractive by access to Activision Blizzard games.
The Commission announced that it would “carry out an in -depth investigation relating to the effects of the operation, in order to determine if its initial fears are confirmed”. She has until March 23, 2023 to make a decision. The opening of an in -depth investigation does not prejudge the outcome of the procedure. This takeover has already been monitored by the British competition authorities since September and the United States since the start of the year.
In a video game sector in full consolidation, Microsoft, himself a game distributor on his Xbox console, announced in January the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, an operation which would propel him into third place in this industry, Behind the Chinese tencent and the Japanese Sony, manufacturer of the PlayStation.